Steve Voorhees, Chief Executive Officer, WestRock, accepted ASPI’s Customer Executive of the Year award during the ASPI 2016 Spring Meeting held February 24-26 in Miami, Florida. In his keynotepresentation accepting the award, Voorhees thanked the supplier community.

“We make more than 50 million of these a year,” Voorhees said, holding up a small corrugated box. “To make money at it we need to do it very efficiently. It’s made outof paper, and the quality of that paper makes a huge difference—which means that you people in the room, and your companies, make a huge difference.”

Voorhees also offered insight into the management philosophy he has used to lead WestRock on a successful path of growth and change. A question and answer periodfollowed the presentation, giving ASPI members in attendance a rare opportunity to hear a customer CEO’s outlook on the industry.

Previously, Voorhees was chief executive officer of RockTenn. Prior to his appointment as CEO of RockTenn, he served in various executive leadership roles, including president and COO. Before joining RockTenn, Voorhees was in operations and executive roles at Sonat Inc., a diversified energy company headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and mathematics from Northwestern University and an MBA from the University of VirginiaDarden School of Business.

The Customer Executive of the Year Award is the highest honor that ASPI can bestow on an individual. This award is presented annually to a customer executive whohas worked diligently within his company, and with his company’s suppliers, to dramatically increase the benefits to his company of its supplied goods and services.

Nominations are now open for ASPI’s 2017 Awards. Nominations are accepted from ASPI member companies, and the ASPI Board of Directors votes onsubmitted nominations. Visit the ASPI website at www.aspinet.org for nomination forms and a list of past recipients.